A Chinese Traveler in Medieval Korea: Xu Jing's Illustrated Account of the Xuanhe Embassy to Koryo

Abstract

In the summer of 1123 Xu Jing travelled on a Chinese embassy ship to Koryŏ. As the secretary in charge of ritual affairs, he was uniquely qualified to observe and record the details of medieval Korean society. He divided the work into 40 thematic chapters, each highlighting different aspects of Koryŏ, including its history, political organization, customs, food, local products, and clothing. It also includes a very detailed description of the travel route from Ningbo in China to the Yesŏng Harbor in Korea. Well known for its description of celadon and Korean mores, the information it presents ... More

In the summer of 1123 Xu Jing travelled on a Chinese embassy ship to Koryŏ. As the secretary in charge of ritual affairs, he was uniquely qualified to observe and record the details of medieval Korean society. He divided the work into 40 thematic chapters, each highlighting different aspects of Koryŏ, including its history, political organization, customs, food, local products, and clothing. It also includes a very detailed description of the travel route from Ningbo in China to the Yesŏng Harbor in Korea. Well known for its description of celadon and Korean mores, the information it presents can however not always be accepted uncritically. Besides a comprehensive and fully annotated scholarly translation of the original, this book therefore also includes an introduction that analyzes and contextualizes this important source.

End Matter

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